England v West Indies | 1st Test| Lords | 6-10 May 09

[JohnDTraynor]

England v. West Indies 1st test May 6th-10th

Wow! Everyone has been looking forward to this exciting two-test series. After the thrills and spills of the four (or was it five?) tests between the two teams in the West Indies, these two tests are sure to capture the imagination.

Both teams have been preparing well: Collingwood hasn't played any cricket at all, but I am sure he has been carrying the drinks in a professional way; Flintoff is injured, but he would like to have played; Pietersen and Bopara have also been in South Africa preparing for tests in England by playing 20-20 cricket; and Gayle? Gayle's plane has landed!

So, all the key players have had this exciting series as their number one priority.

And, Geoff Miller, the "chief selecter" for England, has made it clear how important he thinks the tests against the West Indies are when he said that it is good that Flintoff is injured now rather than him missing the 20-20 World Cup.

Also, not to forget that West Indies are third choice for this series, since Zimbabwe are banned from the UK and Sri Lanka pulled out due to IPL commitments.

And, where's Bravo???? No-one knows.

 

[rhussain33]

Oh well see how it goes. Strauss, Cook and others seem to be prepared, Anderson and Broad, Onions and Brensan, been playing respectivley in their county matches and are ready for action.

 

[Oxy]

I heard 2 reports on the radio today.

Andy Flower (Eng coach) - IPL has meant England are under prepared for WI series

Andy Flintoff (Eng hero) - IPL hasnt left our players under-prepared for WI series

 

[MIG]

Yep get those excuses in - nice and early

 

[Amjid Javed]

England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord's

These two teams have been apart for barely a month but lock horns again as England's international season makes its earliest ever start. Some players, most notably Chris Gayle, have only just made it back from the IPL as Test cricket struggles to show it still remains a top priority. This short series certainly feels unloved at the moment, as everyone waits for the main action of the summer to begin.

Yet, for England it is a vitally important contest as they search for that elusive momentum to carry forward. They start favourites but it shouldn't be forgotten that they handed back the Wisden Trophy with their 1-0 defeat in the Caribbean. A fresh-looking team will take the field with a new No. 3 and the possibility of two debutant seamers for the first time since 1993 as Andy Flower makes his presence felt. But after the upheavals of the last 12 months England are still playing catch-up as they try to work out their best combination.

West Indies, though, have struggled in the early stages of the tour and head into the Test on the back of a 10-wicket warm-up defeat against England Lions. The batting has been especially unconvincing and it still isn't clear who Gayle will open with. At least in Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards they have two quicks who can seriously trouble England, although they will have to shed some of their sweaters to bowl at full speed.



Form guide

England DDDDL
West Indies DDDDW


Watch out for...


Ravi Bopara is the latest candidate to be thrown into the No. 3 spot and the most exciting option the selectors could have taken. Everyone expected it to be Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell or Owais Shah, but Flower had other ideas. It is a gamble from the selectors as Bopara has rarely batted at three for Essex, but he isn't short on confidence. His previous Test innings was a maiden century in Barbados and, unlike some of his team-mates, he showed form at the IPL. This, though, is a huge challenge for him. Two good Tests and the Australians await.

Stuart Broad has been the least talked about of England's quicks leading up to this Test, but he has a pivotal role to play over the next five days. He was the leading seamer in West Indies, finishing with 15 wickets at 30.58 in tough conditions, but it's his all-round skills that are now being touted. "I see him as an allrounder," Andrew Strauss said and Broad will bat at No. 7 after being promoted there in Trinidad.

Fidel Edwards produced some of the most hostile spells in the recent Caribbean series and was the quickest bowler on either side. He, like Gayle, has been at the IPL so will quickly have to switch from Twenty20 into Test mode. He has become used to bowling on the flat pitches in West Indies, so give him some life in early-season England and he'll be a real handful.



Team news


England's only unanswered question is whether to try something different and name two spinners for a May Test. In fact, they haven't played two spinners at home since facing New Zealand, at Old Trafford, in 1999. Given the run of six draws at this ground they need to try something to take 20 wickets, but two twirlers are still unlikely. So it means debuts for Graham Onions (headline writers get ready) and Tim Bresnan with both knowing a good performance will set up their summer.

England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Stuart Broad, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Graham Onions, 11 James Anderson

Chris Gayle confirmed that Sulieman Benn will start, but other than revealed nothing about his final XI. He hasn't had much time to think about it. In the top order there is the problem of finding someone to partner Gayle with both Devon Smith and Dale Richards out of form. Lendl Simmons has been in the runs, but he was originally picked as a middle order player. In the bowling there are two uncapped quicks in the squad - Andrew Richardson and Nelon Pascal - but the temptation will be to strength the batting with an allrounder. Darren Sammy has played one previous Test in England and took 7 for 66 on debut at Old Trafford so could come into the reckoning.

West Indies (possible) Chris Gayle (capt), Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Fidel Edwards

Umpires: Steve Davis (Australia) and Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka)


Pitch and conditions

Lord's has turned into a batting paradise in recent years and the last six Tests have all been drawn. There is a tinge of green to the latest surface, but that doesn't necessarily mean there will be any more life for the quicks and they don't have a habit of breaking up for the spinners, either. The forecast is promising with Wednesday meant to be cloudy but dry and just a few showers possible on Thursday.

Source - cricinfo

 

[Amjid Javed]

Despite causing a few shocks in last series i expect england to beat the W.I this time round.

 

[Mohsin]

England should win comfortably, Windies batsmen will struggle big time.

Why the Wednesday start, what happened to the traditional Thursday start?

 

[dblock]

Barely has May begun but we are thrust into the English summer of cricket.

Everything seems a bit rushed at the moment, the players haven't had much FC experience, and the IPL boys hardly any proper cricket for a while.

That would make the opener quite interesting, because it would be hard to forecast who would come out of the blocks quicker, West Indies have looked at sea in their tour matches. England don't have much of a settled side at the moment either to fully capitalise, the bowling attack without Flintoff and Harmison looks a bit thin.

Then again it's Lords, where the last 6 tests have been drawn.

http://content.cricinfo.com/engvwi2009/content/current/story/403085.html

Oh....and no mention of the Ashes so far

 

[Amjid Javed]

West indies batting will need to some how fire in alien conditions. Chanderpaul cant carry the whole team on his shoulders.

 

[dblock]

England's bowling attack:

Anderson - avg 35
Broad - avg 40
Onions - avg 32 (FC)
Bresnan - avg 32 (FC)
Swann - avg 28
Panesar - avg 33

Hardly confidence aspiring... but it's quite cool in London, and swing could come into play.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

England will be clear favorites to win both tests convincingly.
Windies will have to bat exceptionally well to at least earn a draw. If there is swing they would be sitting ducks against the english seamers.
Their bowling will probably be better with powell finally being dropped. Hope that benn can
create some problems

 

[Best_Bacha]

I want to see Edwards 95mph bouncers to Pieterson.

 

[On_the_up]

nice day for it

 

[On_the_up]

The English bowling looks weak. Its certainly not going to be a threat for the ashes series.

 

[On_the_up]

Pietersen, Strauss the only survivors from the 2005 ashes. Did Collingwood play?

 

[On_the_up]

west indies win the toss and will bowl

 

[On_the_up]

panesar misses out for England

 

[On_the_up]

Strauss will be looking to continue his superb form from the west indies

 

[On_the_up]

gayle probably wanted more time before batting due to the late landing.

 

[Amjid Javed]

5 Bowlers for england! Lets see if they can take 20 wickets. Something they have failed to do in last 7 tests and probably once in last 11 tests!

 

[Amjid Javed]

England 9/0

Not much assistance with New ball for W.I bowlers here!

 

[On_the_up]

Strauss away, England 20-0 after 5 overs

 

[On_the_up]

captaincy definitely brings out the best in Strauss as far as batting us concerned.

 

[On_the_up]

seems another lifeless lords pitch

 

[Oxy]

seems another lifeless lords pitch

Tell that to Straussy!

Hes gone to Taylor.

28-1

 

[Oxy]

Cant see how Bopara is considered a No 3 batsman - let alone the BEST No 3 in England!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Strauss was looking good till he got out, big test for Bopara now.

Dont think hes a Test number 3!

 

[On_the_up]

commentators curse, had to happen after the build up

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Cant see how Bopara is considered a No 3 batsman - let alone the BEST No 3 in England!

r u kiddin? he got a hundred in the last series. when u struggling for a batsman at 3...u take whatever u get

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Strauss was looking good till he got out, big test for Bopara now.

Dont think hes a Test number 3!

he looks even better now

nice shot by ravi for 44444444444444444444

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

lovely drivi by ravi for 444444444444444444

how sweetly timed

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

oppsssssssssss

cook drives

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

runs now flowing like water

 

[Amjid Javed]

Cook looks good so far.

 

[On_the_up]

shocking strike rate from cook

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

wow cook has a very good ave at lords

 

[Oxy]

r u kiddin? he got a hundred in the last series. when u struggling for a batsman at 3...u take whatever u get

And?

You think of some of the No 3s to have graced the game - the most pivitol position in a batting line up, and you would not say Bopara is an obvious choice.


I saw his hundred - it was brilliant. I think No 6 is his niche

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

so far pretty even, but england lookin better and more solid

 

[Amjid Javed]

Number 3 is a specalist postion and I think when Bopara plays the likes of Australia, South Africa he maybe found out. Like Bell and few others hes better suited to number 6.

 

[Oxy]

68-1

Benn looking dangerous

 

[Oxy]

Lunch 88-1 off 29 overs

 

[Oxy]

How did Collingwood & Shah do in IPL?

 

[Da Best]

The pitch is sooooo slow, unbeliveable.

 

[Oxy]

The pitch is sooooo slow, unbeliveable.

On 'travesty' proportions???

 

[On_the_up]

On 'travesty' proportions???

I managed to refrain from saying the word .

 

[Amjid Javed]

6 drawn tests in a row and i know this has just started but what odds a 7th?

Eng 88/1 and plodding along.

 

[Oxy]

Cook cock up

Fidel bowls hmi after lunch

92-2 off 32.5 overs

 

[Oxy]

Bloody hell!!!!

Kevin Pieterson is OUT 1st ball GOLDEN DUCK!!!

What a stunning ball 1st up - unplyable - and a great catch by Ramdin!

92-3

 

[On_the_up]

what's been s top speed today?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Cook gone and KP in so we may get a move on now...

 

[Oxy]

Fidel will be on a hatrick next over

 

[On_the_up]

oh dear. cricket is a cruel game sometimes.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

wow good break by fidel

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

oh dear. cricket is a cruel game sometimes.

how can u say cruel?

fantastic...lovely catch by ramdin..x-c-lentlyyyyyyyyyyy

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

ok fidel boyyyyyyyyyyy let her ripppppppp

 

[On_the_up]

how can u say cruel?

fantastic...lovely catch by ramdin..x-c-lentlyyyyyyyyyyy

you sit in the dressing room all that time and then get a beauty first ball .

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

i think peterson is still peeved bout chanderpaul

so he decides to leave the field early

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

comon fidel on the stumps not too wide

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

england still have a strong batting line up...collin and prior r good players.

windies must continue to work hard

 

[Oxy]

What beauty last ball of the over - in shooter!

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

good over by fidel.....96/3

 

[Amjid Javed]

Edwards was most impressive bowler in last series and is bowling well today also.

Another few wickets and W.I will be into the tail!

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

what a sweetly times shot by ravi...through d covers for 444444444444444444444444

 

[Amjid Javed]

KP did get a rip snorter! Unplayable! just seen replays!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Bopman keeps Bobing along!

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

ravi doin a good job for his team ...holding it together under no real pressure.

we need to get him out

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

come on fidel dont throw it away with no balls

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

good pull what aggressive response by collin for 4444444444444444444

 

[Amjid Javed]

Edwards really giving it his all in this spell!

 

[Oxy]

Benn gets Bopra OUT PLUMB LBW!

No idea why Steve DAvies did NOT give that out!

Hitting middle stick!

He's a shocking umpire!

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

oh dear....ravi should have been given out lbw

 

[Oxy]

Just seen Hawkeye - confirms - its HITTING Smack in the middle of middle stump.

Steve Davies was a joke last time I saw him.

And he's going to screw the Windies this summer!

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Benn gets Bopra OUT PLUMB LBW!

No idea why Steve DAvies did NOT give that out!

Hitting middle stick!

He's a shocking umpire!

yea man the whole windies team has been electrocuted by that shocker )

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Just seen Hawkeye - confirms - its HITTING Smack in the middle of middle stump.

Steve Davies was a joke last time I saw him.

And he's going to screw the Windies this summer!

we already been screweddddddddddddddd

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

the commentators trying to save the ump decision

 

[Amjid Javed]

Arent referals being used here?

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

goneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

wood gets woodddddddddddddddddddddd

fidel strikes againnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

 

[Oxy]

Justice for Windies.

Collingwood - another with IPL on his mind probably is caught at slip

Fidel with his 3rd.

109-4

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

109/4...should have been 5

 

[Oxy]

Arent referals being used here?

No